What is Jamesian?

As my insomniac twitter followers know, my method for keeping my sanity during these playoffs has been watching an episode or two of Twin Peaks every night after I’m done with my work. Every time I watch it, I can’t help but think of David Foster Wallace’s brilliant essay on David Lynch. One of the driving forces behind the essay is Wallace trying to find a working definition of what is “Lynchian.” DFW’s eventual definition of the term ended up being the blending of the grotesque, fantastic, and the strange with the everyday. Here are some of Wallace’s examples of Lynchian happenings: Jeffrey Dahmer putting body parts in his fridge beside condiments and normal frozen foodstuffs. A murdered housewife whose 50’s bouffant hairdo was left perfectly intact.

It’s impossible not to see the moments Wallace was talking about in Lynch’s work after reading his essay. Blue Velvet opens with a man collapsing and dying while watering his lawn. A cute dog coming over to drink the water out of the still-flowing hose is what makes it Lynchian. The second episode of Twin Peaks famously ends with a scene where Agent Cooper has a vision where a little person and a woman who looks exactly like Laura Palmer talk to him in a mysterious red room. Both of them were filmed talking backwards, then that film was played backwards to make it seem like they were talking forwards. Also, Cooper was in old-man makeup. Oh, just watch the scene. The point is that none of those elements are what make the sequence Lynchian. What makes it Lynchian is Cooper’s bed-head when he calls the sheriff to tell him that his dream let him know who killed Laura Palmer.

All of this has gotten me thinking about what it is that makes watching LeBron James different from watching any other player. It’s not just that he’s better than everybody else. He’s different, and that statement isn’t all compliment.

This has been said many times before, but the LeBron paradigm is different from the Jordan paradigm, which is what other elite perimeter players seem to be chasing. Jordan perfected the art of the perimeter game. LeBron isn’t chasing perfection. He’s attempting to redefine the perception of what is possible. Jamesian moments are the ones that make you think “Good Lord. As great as this man is, he might only be scratching the surface of what he’s capable of.”

There are a lot of times LeBron doesn’t seem like a great team sports athlete. He seems more like a Roy Jones Jr. or Anderson Silva; the guys who were so much better than their opponents that they needed to find new challenges for themselves and new ways to prove how much better they were than their competition.

When that works, it’s incredible. Look at this Roy Jones knockdown. That should be impossible. It’s also important to remember the following. When asked about the thought process that went into putting his hands behind his back during a televised prizefight, Jones explained that he was having trouble getting his opponent to exchange, so he decided to “chicken-fight”to get him to do what he wanted. Was putting his hands behind his back the maneuver that gave him the best chance of winning that fight? Probably not. But Roy Jones honestly and truly believes that it was. He was so talented that he was able to toss fundamentals out the door. And it worked. It didn’t just work; it produced one of the most memorable boxing highlights ever. I think LeBron has the exact same confidence in his heat-check threes or crazy attempts to go for the dagger shot.

When those things work, they flat-out work. When they don’t, people get angry. When Anderson Silva put his hands down and Matrix-ed Forest Griffin, everybody loved it. When he failed to finish Damien Maia because he was too busy showboating and dancing, fans turned on him instantly. People love to see athletes win with flair, but there’s few things they hate more than athletes that value flair over winning.

LeBron James is clearly the best player in basketball right now. It’s not particularly close. He’s not only the best player; he’s so talented that he can be the best player while he’s still trying to figure out what he can and can’t do on a basketball court. There’s no one gameplan he’s trying to follow. There’s no individual goal he’s trying to reach. Sometimes, he’s competing against himself and what he’s capable of as much as he’s competing against the other team.

If this was an individual sport, that would be fine. He’d be knocking guys out while dancing around them and putting his hands down. He’d be winning tennis matches by using crazy drop shots where a simple volley would have sufficed, or hitting winners from impossible angles when just going baseline would have kept the rally going. He’d be winning 100-meter races without running hard the whole time. We’d shake our heads sometimes, but at the end of the day we’d all acknowledge that LeBron is the best in the world and that it’s a privilege to watch him.

The problem is that basketball isn’t an individual sport. It’s a team sport. It’s the most star-dominated major team sport, but it’s still a team sport. Being the best individual doesn’t matter in a team sport. The goal of any individual in a team sport is to do everything in his power to help his team win. Because of that, he’s judged by how often his team wins. That’s why LeBron’s quest to find out his capabilities as a basketball player can be infuriating to watch as a Cavaliers fan.

If you put your hands down in the ring because you know your opponent can’t hit you, that’s one thing. When you try to prove a point on the court when you’re one of 10 players with the power to decide the game, that’s quite another. Making a pull-up three when trailing by two or a left-handed free throw in a playoff game would have done wonders to prove LeBron’s superiority over anyone else playing basketball right now. That’s not what he should be playing for. It should be about doing everything in his power to make sure the Cavs win every game. To be clear, I think winning is his first priority every time he steps out on the floor, and he only starts experimenting when he doesn’t think there’s a legitimate chance the Cavs will lose. However, every now and then LeBron’s curiosity about his own capabilities is counter-productive to giving the Cavs the best chance of winning. Again, It’s great to watch when it works. When it doesn’t, it’s maddening.

Instead of letting this drive me completely insane, I have learned to accept that LeBron is LeBron, and attempt to develop a working definition of “Jamesian.” I define “Jamesian” as a moment where LeBron doesn’t do something simple he theoretically should be capable of doing, but instead chooses to attempt to re-define the notion of what a basketball player is capable of.

Interlude: I’m not sure this paragraph fits here, but it isn’t a post of its own and isn’t completely out of place here. I’ve talked before about how great players don’t consistently make difficult shots; they consistently create easy ones. I think fans respond the most to players who consistently create and make fairly difficult shots.

Allow me to explain. When Shaq was in his prime and scoring 30 points a game with a baby hook, counter-spin, and a dominant frame, it didn’t quite look like greatness the way Jordan’s baskets did. When J.R. Smith chooses to launch 26-foot threes off the dribble rather than try to use his athleticism to get layups or just wait for open threes, that doesn’t look like greatness either. Jordan catching the ball on the perimeter, going hard to the basket, stopping on a dime, and draining a fadeaway? That’s more like like it. Kareem facing up his man, going into the lane, and rising up for an unblockable skyhook? There we go. Ray Allen running around a series of screens, catching a pass, and rising up for a catch-and-shoot jumper off a curl? Beautiful. Kevin Garnett catching it at the high-post, using a pump-fake to get his defender to crowd him, using the rocker-step to get space, then draining a reverse hook over his right shoulder? You get where I’m going with this. We love superstars that use their natural gifts to create looks and their skill to convert those looks. There’s a reason why game-winning jump shots stick in the minds of basketball fans like no other plays do; not only is it a player making a difficult shot, but the difficult shot was the best option available to him.

LeBron is odd. He doesn’t have signature “split the difference” moves, like a go-to pull-up from midrange or a series of moves from the post. He either dominates with his physical gifts or uses his range and skill to drain extremely difficult shots. There’s not much of a middle ground. When he goes to the basket, it seems too easy. When he pops a three off the dribble, it seems like he could have taken an easier shot. Look at that game five in Detroit; every shot was either impossible or impossibly easy. If you want to know why some people don’t love LeBron’s game, here’s why: LeBron’s aesthetics don’t match his effectiveness. It’s as simple as that sometimes.

Anyways, here’s my list of “Jamesian” moments:

-When LeBron misses the second free throw, the Cavs get the offensive rebound, and LeBron immediately nails the three.

-To continue with the theme, LeBron missed two free throws in the middle of his explosion at the Bradley Center last season.

-When LeBron is relatively quiet all game, then explodes for some and-1s late and makes fans wonder if he can do that whenever he wants.

-When LeBron gets it in the post, looks for the cutter or open three-point shooter, doesn’t find him, and reluctantly destroys his defender for an easy bucket in the post.

-When LeBron has all but put the game away and starts firing threes to put the cherry on top.

-Heat-checks.

-When LeBron easily chases down Derrick Rose to get a block in the full-court, but is a step slow closing out Luol Deng for a mid-range jumper.

-When LeBron goes with a behind-the-back dribble into a jump shot for the first time in his career down the stretch against Detroit in game five.

-When LeBron looks over the defense and flicks a skip pass to the opposite side of the court like other players make a basic chest pass.

-When LeBron looks duck-footed and off-balance on defense late, and then you realize nobody can get past him anyways.

-When LeBron’s in transition, sees three defenders back already, says “screw it,” and gets the bucket or the foul anyways.

LeBron is maddening to watch and cover sometimes. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate how good he is, or give thanks every day for the opportunity to watch and write about this man play basketball. LeBron isn’t like any other player. Sometimes that’s frustrating, sometimes that’s confusing. Most of the time, it’s just spectacular to watch. LeBron is LeBron. At the end of the day, that’s about as big of a compliment as I can give.

23 Responses to “What is Jamesian?”

“However, every now and then LeBron’s curiosity about his own capabilities is counter-productive to giving the Cavs the best chance of winning.”

The last regular season game with Boston proved this. Shooting the three was the wrong thing to do, but in his mind lebron felt that he couldve easily made that shot. Let’s face it Lebron is still young and experimenting. I doubt this will be something that sticks with him forever.

“LeBron is LeBron, but LeBron is currently not 100%. That elbow injury/bruise, methinks, just changed the whole dynamics of the Celtics-Cavs series.

I am intrigued by how LeBron will respond to this injury. He’s already told us that he’ll adapt his game – if this requires him to drive to the hole a whole lot more, he’ll do it.

LeBron is LeBron, but can he dominate and help his team win, with an injury?????”

Lebron said his ‘bow has been bothering him for a couple weeks now. I know he aggravated it in game 5 but the dude nearly dropped back to back triple doubles with the same injury. I think he will be fine as long as Glen Davis doesn’t strategically body slam Bron’s elbow with his 3.2 metric ton self.

Excellent, Send this to Kenny Smith. It explains why he dislikes LBJ. Honestly, LeBron reminds me of when I was 16 and played against 13 year olds. I felt like I could probably do all kinds of shots that I hadn’t even thought of yet, so each possession was kind of a “Hey, I wonder if…”

“When LeBron’s in transition, sees three defenders back already, says “screw it,” and gets the bucket or the foul anyways.”

is the best. It’s where with any other player I would be screaming “MO WILLIAMS IS WIDE OPEN FOR 3 RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!!” But with LeBron there is kind of the understanding that “Yeah, he knows Mo is wide open and he passes this 70% of the time, but he just wants to see if this will work.”

When I first started reading this, I was like meh…but then as i read on i liked this post more and more…great work and very insightful…much different than other blogs ive read on here….great work

it is true that lebron will try different things on the fly just to see if he can do it…its great that whenever he’s on a fastbreak with 3 defenders going at him towards the hoop the announcers all say the same thing…’what are going to do when a 270 pound locomotive is coming straight at you?’…it just shows Lebrons strength and toughness that he cant be stopped when driving…

which leads to my next point of Lebron not driving at will if he cant be stopped…i know it leads to bumps and bruises and hard fouls…but clearly no one can stop him, the Celtics cant for sure so I wonder if Lebron will just drive at will get their bigs in foul trouble and put the onus on big baby and sheldon williams which should be a clear advantage for the Cavs…big baby fouls too much anyways…i wont even mention rasheed wallace (although i did here) but he sucks and is not worth it..

cant wait for tomorrow to start…should be a good series but expect the Cavs to take the games more seriously and show NO MERCY!

@Leo – Good comment on John’s superb article. “NO MERCY” should totally have been the Cavs playoff slogan. Imagine during the games, they could play that Karate Kid clip over and over again. “SWEEP THE LEG, JOHNNY!! NO MERCY!!”

@Bo – lol I was trying to find a youtube clip of “sweep the leg!” yesterday for LTTP in regards to everyone’s guess that the Celtics will be going for LeBron and Shaq’s injuries.

This is a great post. When I first saw the title I thought it referred to Antawn Jamison. You bring up some great moments. That Bradley Center game is a perfect example – draining ridiculous 3s off the dribble and in transition, misses 2 FT, offensive rebound finds its way into LeBron’s hands, he has a defender in his grill, and his rises up from 28 feet and rattles in a 3 anyway…..JAMESIAN.

I think you are right that his aesthetics don’t always match his effectiveness. I think part of the reason for this is casual fan’s obsession with mid-range jumpers. Dwyane Wade is seen as a very “pretty” player to watch. Yet, comparing him and LeBron, LBJ is a better 3 point shooter, better foul shooter, better all around shooter, and better in every other area. Yet, Wade is “flash”. My guess is just because his go-to move is that step back mid-range J from the left elbow over a defender. I’m not sure if it’s because of Jordan or Kobe, but fans seem to get all nuts about contested 20 footers – you know, the most inefficient shot in basketball. Meanwhile 3s are seen as a commodity and LeBron’s epic forays to the rim are dismissed as “bulling his way” to the basket.

Anyway, I look forward to more Jamesian moments. Jamesian moments have been overwhelmingly positive imo.

Another thought. LeBron has been making the impossible commonplace for six years now. Look at how the crowd in the Q reacts whenever he charges through the lane and makes the fall away reverse layup. If there’s no and-1, people aren’t jumping out of their seats to cheer the incredible play, because they expect him to do it 5 times a game. They cheer, but certainly not to the degree they were in 2005.

For LeBron to still rule the sportscenter highlights and stay on top, I think he knows he has to keep pushing the Jamesian moments, despite the fact that he often does not come through. How crazy will it be when it starts working consistently and we can expect 48-specials on a nightly basis?

Best blog post I’ve read in a long time. Playing so much basketball year and after really takes its toll on the mind, and I think LeBron’s experiments are just the price fans must pay for him to keep going. Because he had success so early, LBJ doesn’t play with that “I’ll show ’em” drive that many have had.

I think Jabbar might be the closest player in history to him, in terms of early success and general unstoppable-ness in his era.

You’re absolutely right about Shaq, too. He was the dominant player for several years, but because he made it seem so easy (and couldn’t hit foul shots) people didn’t enjoy him as much.

Another great article by Krolik. I’m terrified of the possibility of LeBron leaving Cleveland next year, but a derivative consequence could be Krolik’s posts to star Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison. Ah!

-When LeBron is relatively quiet all game, then explodes for some and-1s late and makes fans wonder if he can do that whenever he wants.

We like to call this primae noctis – from Braveheart, the ability of the King do have his way [with a woman before her marriage to another countryman]

@Tom I think Wade is actually more of a bruiser than you gauge. He loves that “international three zone,” but they call him Flash (coined by Shaq, surprise surprise) because hes’ really damn fast. And during that 2005 Championship run, he was flying all over the court in a very Iversonian way.

@Charlie: great comment about lebron’s drive, and I think this is what krolik has been trying to corral. the kobe comparisons seem strange not only because they play different games, but because kobe’s chasing Jordan SO MUCH MORE LITERALLY than Bron. Bron never played with michael, never literally stood in his shadow, and hasn’t had to chase comparisons so much as his own hype. His narrative, from the beginning of his time in the league, was not “Will he live up to michael?” but “Will he live up to his own hype? So he is, in a sense, trying to beat himself to the edge of his potential.

On top of that, I think its interesting that there is a general acceptance (aside from a few…and steadily shrinking group) of his “superiority” as an individual player over the rest of the league, and even a somewhat smaller acceptance of the fact that he is already a better player than kobe was in his prime. Jordan is another story as of yet. And so…in almost all fashions, Lebron has already caught his own hype, and this is perhaps where his decision making can be seen as experimenting and pushing the limits of possibility. Before Lebron’s hype, the limits were Michael Jordan. Literally and metaphorically. And now we don’t know what the limits are anymore, largely due to the fact that Lebron has made a concerted effort not to pattern himself after any one player and instead has created this bizarre vortex of self-competition.

I love this!!!!
I tape every game, DVDs of Cavs games about 200 deep.
This article completely explains why he is a “disappointment” to real basketball fans. THANK YOU!
I am the same way and wondered why I thought me and him had the same personality… put it this way, I hated when people made “bunnies” in 33
too easy, right?

almost better than the blog of Oj Mayo’s chasedown block. Ironically that same block was broken down with the host of Sports Science at halftime of Chicago Game 1… Google: “A Little More Obsessive Close-Reading Of LeBron’s Most Recent Chase-Down”

The Lineup: (Click for Author’s Archive)

Nate Smith is an Associate Editor. He grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and moved to NE Ohio in 2000. He adopted the Cavs in 2003 and graduated from Kent State in 2009 with a BA in English. He can be contacted at oldseaminer@gmail.com or @oldseaminer on Twitter.

Tom Pestak is an Associate Editor. He's from the west side of Cleveland and lives and (mostly) dies by the success and (mostly) failures of his beloved teams. You can watch his fanaticism during Cavs games @tompestak.

Robert Attenweiler is a Staff Writer. Originally from OH, he's long made his home in NYC where he writes plays and screenplays (www.disgracedproductions.com) some of which end up being about Ohio, basketball or both. He has also written for The Classical and the blog Raising the Cadavalier. You can contact him at rattenweiler@gmail.com or @cadavalier.

Benjamin Werth is a Staff Writer. He was born in Cleveland and raised in Mentor, OH. He now lives in Germany where he is an opera singer and actor. He can be reached at blfwerth@gmail.com.

Cory Hughey is a Staff Writer. He grew up in Youngstown, the Gary, Indiana of Ohio. He graduated from Youngstown State in 2008 with a worthless telecommunications degree. He can be contacted at theleperfromwatts@yahoo.com or @coryhughey on Twitter.

David Wood is our Links Editor. He is a 2012 Graduate of Syracuse University with an English degree who loves bikes, beer, basketball, writing, and Rimbaud. He can be reached on Twitter: @nothingwood.

Mallory Factor is the voice of Cavs: The Podcast. By day Mallory works in fundraising and by night he runs a music business company. To see his music endeavors check out www.fivetracks.com. Hit him up at Malloryfactorii@gmail.com or @Malfii.

John Krolik is the Editor Emeritus of Cavs: The Blog. At present, he is pursuing a law degree at Tulane University. You can contact him at johnkrolik@gmail.com or @johnkrolik.

Follow Me On Twitter

General NBA

Other Places To Find My Work

The Comment Monster

A monster lives in the comments section of Cavs: The Blog, and he likes to feed on comments. We have very little idea about when he will strike. What we do know is that comments with 2 or more links will get filed into the spam folder, as will comments with foul or discriminatory language. The comment monster also seems to enjoy extra-long comments, so if you have a long comment, you may want to press copy before submitting a long comment and break it into multiple pieces if the monster eats it. If you are having particular trouble with the monster, email one of us and we will talk to him for you.